Biomedical treatment systems and methods
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for distraction of tissue or bone in a surgery. A method comprises inserting into targeted tissue a distraction device configured with at least one phase transition extendable body. After deployment in a non-extended configuration, the physician applies a stimulus to the body or bodies to cause a liquid-to-vapor or solid-to-vapor phase transition within the body that extends the body in a fast event from the non-extended configuration to an extended configuration to thereby apply distraction forces to the targeted tissue. The extendable body is made of biocompatible materials having any suitable configuration. In one embodiment, the implant and system is used for reducing a vertebral compression fracture. The distraction system can be used to distribute forces over a selected region of strong cortical bone to restore vertebral height. Such a system can be dimensioned as a cylindrical, spherical, annular or part-annular construct for creating selected directional forces for moving apart cortical endplates.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1-28. -28. (canceled)
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29. A method for distraction of mammalian body structure, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting into a mammalian body at least one phase transition extendable body, said extendable body in a non-extended configuration; and
(b) providing a stimulus thereby causing a liquid-to-vapor or solid-to-vapor phase transition of media within the at least one extendable body to move the extendable body from a non-extended configuration to an extended configuration thereby applying distraction forces on the body structure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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- 39. A surgical distraction system comprising at least one phase extendable body that is alterable from a non-extended configuration to an extended configuration to thereby apply distraction forces to tissue.
Specification